TIRANA, November 14/ATA/ There are more and more local and foreign visitors to the protected areas of the country.
They like to do hiking following the trails in the protected areas and enjoying the Albanian nature.
Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro said today that, "4.9 million visitors from January to October have been recorded in our protected areas from the national parks, natural parks and natural monuments".
"This figure exceeds all the year 2023 and it is a crystal clear evidence of the extension of tourist season throughout the year, diversification and development of eco-tourism. Thus, during October, there were 440 thousand visitors in the protected areas", said Kumbaro.
According to data from the Ministry of Tourism and Environment and the National Agency of Protected Areas, 3.2 million visitors were local and 1.7 million foreign visitors in 19 months’ time.
During this period, the most visited parks are: "The Alps of Albania" National Park with 78 thousand visitors; "Divjakë-Karavasta" National Park with 29 thousand visitors and Butrint National Park with 17 thousand visitors.
The Ministry of Tourism and Environment has decided to support two main projects with Budget 2025, natural tourism and protected areas. And in more concrete terms, the establishment of infrastructure in the Ulza Eco-Park and the construction of the Multifunctional Center of the Vjosa National Park.
During presentation of the 2025 budget for the Ministry of Tourism and Environment at the Committee for Production Activity, Trade and Environment, Kumbaro said that this budget is 3.9 billion Lekë and focuses on protected areas and the sustainable development of tourism.
The protected Areas in Albania are considered as an effective opportunity for the development of sustainable tourism.
Therefore, the Tourism Ministry is working hard to promote these protected areas for their extraordinary biodiversity values they carry, but also as important tourist destinations at the national level and beyond.
Yesterday, there were also published the figures of foreign visitors, who from January to October reached 10.4 million. /k.s/a.f/p.s./
